Local teens will be tuning in to Blackwater Regional Library as we celebrate the annual Teen Tech Week™ (March 6-11, 2017) initiative. They join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating this year's theme, "Be the Source of Change", to raise awareness of extended learning beyond the classroom where they can explore, create and share content.

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially the types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to take advantage of the technology at libraries for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified and trusted professionals available to assist them.

Libraries across the country offer a variety of tech, and non-tech, programs to show how libraries provide meaningful contributions to the educational and social development of teens in the community. Over the last several years, the library's role in increasing digital literacy has become more and more important, equal to that of reading literacy.

Teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Tech Week, March 6-11, 2017, through a variety of programs offered at several branches of Blackwater Regional Library:

Carrollton Branch: Students at Smithfield High School are encouraged to visit the school library, March 9, 2017 from 9-11am, to chat with us to learn more about the library's digital resources.

Claremont Branch: Teen Movie Night - Friday, March 10, 2017 @ 6:30 pm

Courtland Branch: We have lots to keep you busy this week! Stop in for a little book trivia and BINGO (March 7-11, 2017)! We will also have the Southampton Sheriff's Office here on March 8, 2017 @ 6pm to talk with teens about bullying and peer pressure.